The brand owners of RoMa Craft Tobac had two things in common before meeting. They both had lived in Texas, and they were both passionate about cigars. Mike Rosales had his Costa Rican Imports company producing cigars, while Skip Martin had his cigar shop in Galveston before being destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Eventually they would cross paths and create the brand called RoMa Craft and build a factory in Nicaragua called Nica Sueno. Today we review one of the first cigars to come from the partnership, CroMagnon.
Cigar Review: CroMagnon
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Cranium (Toro)
The Look: Packaged in a wooden box of 24 cigars, the CroMagnon features a skull branded into the box. Inside the cigars are laid out in 4 rows of 6 each. The band features the word CroMagnon that is embossed on a matte black band. That primary band is laid over an ivory band that features hieroglyphics. and is easily the hardest band to remove in the industry today. The dark Connecticut Broadleaf cigar has a nice amount of oils along with some tooth on the wrapper with a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the CroMagnon Cranium size has a citrus like component to it, with hints of cedar and earth. Meanwhile the aroma from the foot is reminiscent of a cinnamon graham cracker. Once the cigar is slowly toasted and lit the first note has a subtle salted caramel component.
As we work our way into the first third, there are notes of earth along with some subtle lemon zest. The salted caramel from when we first lit up begins to show up as the first third comes to a close. The retrohale of the cigar adds some notes of leather and cayenne pepper creating a long finish.
As we slide into the second third notes of salted caramel becomes the focal point with a touch of earth in the background. The retrohale of the cigar is incredibly smooth with hints of cinnamon appearing as the cigar has a nice long coffee note on the finish.
As the cigar comes to a close the focal point of the cigar is the wonderful coffee notes with a touch of earth and leather. The retrohale continues to serve up some spices and adds to the coffee on the palate.
The Finish: There are some brands that scream out old, but they deserve to be on the market because they deliver year after year. Right now CroMagnon is the definition of a modern cigar, but I have no doubt that one day these brands will be old and still on the market because they constantly deliver. It’s a cigar that every new-school fan boy needs to try, and its an eye opening cigar for those who have not changed with the times.
Score: 92
Price: $9.89 / $209.99
CroMagnon Cranium
CroMagnon Cranium Foot
